Led by the Trinidadian born, New York
trained trumpet player Brownman Ali -- who himself has just under 300 CD
recording credits as a side man to his name -- this hard hitting latin-jazz
unit funkifies it's audiences with Brownman's original latin-funk compositions
and high-energy virtuositic jazz soloists. The amalgamation of authentic
latin rhythm, jazz harmony and modern urban groove, this group began it's
career as a musical experiment for Brownman in the tonal qualities of latin
music composed in a chordless setting (no piano, no guitar). Since
the late '50s jazz musicians have richly explored this unique musical texture
creating a 5 decade chordless jazz tradition, however this texture had
never been explored in Latin America, due to the dominance and omni-presence
of the piano "montuno" or equivalent guitar structures.

The result of this musical experiment
- Brownman & - the first chordless latin-jazz-urban
unit in history -

.
is modeled in that jazz tradition of 'the chordless quintet',and takes the same approach in a latin-jazz
context.

Featuring the Ali
Brothers - Brownman and Marcus Ali - and dedicated to the amalgamation
of latin rhythm, jazz harmony and urban groove, .
explores the inner workings of these artforms through Brownman's original
compositions, intense *improvisation-interaction
and raw energy.

(*Has
also been refered to more formally as "That crazy brother shit")

That's this group's press release
above. But what does it mean? Brownman and Marcus have become
two of the first calls in the city of Toronto when latin bands are in need
of horn players... but both are still improvisers with their hearts firmly
affixed to the jazz world. This band is their way of amalgamating
the intense South American rhythms they have been exposed to while working
in the latin musical community (particularly Cuban ones) with their inherent
jazz harmonic knowledge as improvisers. The funk comes from the compositions
and the arrangements and the way the rhythm section plays them. Brownman
is the primary composer for the unit and his sense of funk from his affiliations
with
Randy Brecker (of the Brecker Brothers) and his extensive time
in funk horn sections and recording sessions comes to bear. That
combined with the sheer ferocity with which Chendy, Luisito and Paco attack
the grooves makes for some of the funkiest latin-jazz around.
hopes you enjoy their interpretations of Brownman's vision.